AMERICAN    BOARD    OF     COMMISSIONERS    FOR 
FOREIGN    MISSIONS. 


MISSIONARY    PAPER, 


No.    XIX. 


A  CALL   TO    PERSONAL    LABOR  AS    A  FOREIGN 
MISSIONARY. 


r 


i\\  ^.  *s  -~=>\ 


\JkXT\ 


BOSTON: 

CROCKER  &  BREWSTER,  PRINTERS. 
1835. 


MISSIONARY     PAPES,    KO.      19. 

7 


A    CALL    TO    PERSONAL   LABOR    AS    A    FOREIGN 
MISSIONARY. 


vX 


Jly  the  Rev.  William  S.  Flumer,  Petersburg,  Va. 

Affectionately  and  respectfully  inscribed   lo  his  young  brethren  in  the 
ministry,  or  in  a  course  of  training  preparatory  to  the  ministry. 


I  will  send  the e  far  hence  unto  the  Gentiles. — Acts  xxii,  '21 . 

The  moral  condition  of  nations,  not  evangelized,  remains 
substantially  the  same  that  it  was  when  the  apostles  began 
their  stupendous  labors.  The  very  essence  of  every  sys- 
tem of  manners,  morals,  and  religion,  not  evangelical,  is 
corruption — gross,  foul,  deep,  total  corruption.  We  have 
some  pictures  of  heathenism,  drawn  by  the  pencil  of  plen- 
ary inspiration,  that  are  to  the  life,  and  never  were,  and 
never  will  be  caricatures.  The  folly  of  heathen  worship 
is  matter  of  divine  ridicule.  Read  the  one  hundred  and 
fifteenth  Psalm,  and  the  fortieth  and  forty-fourth  chapters 
of  Isaiah,  if  you  would  learn  the  judgment  of  the  Eternal, 
respecting  heathenism. 

The  corruptions  of  heathenism  on  some  points,  it  is  a 
shame  even  to  speak  of.  W  the  reader  will  have  the 
kindness  to  read  the  first  chapter  of  Paul's  epistle  to  the 
Romans,  the  sixth  chapter  of  the  first  epistle  to  the  Corin- 
thians, together  with  the  second,  fourth,  and  fifth  chap- 
ters of  the  epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  he  will  see  what  hea- 
thenism was  in  Martyr  days.  And  what  it  once  was,  it 
itill  is.  Were  we  to  undertake  a  new  delineation  of  hea- 
1 


2  A  Call  to  Personal  Labor  as 

thenism,  we  could  not,  in  truth,  add  or  remove  a  single 
feature,  without  injuring  the  graphic  description  given  in 
the  Scriptures  referred  to.  Ignorance  reigns  in  terror. 
Superstition  has  rivetted  her  massy  iron  chains,  and  bars, 
and  bolts,  on  mighty  men  and  nations.  Perfect  mum- 
meries are  preferred  to  intelligence  or  intelligible  devo- 
tions. Horrid  midnight  orgies,  and  silly  orisons,  are  cele- 
brated with  untiring  zeal.  The  smoke  of  most  abomina- 
ble  incense  ascends  from  ten  thousand  altars.  In  every 
heathen  nation  are  countless  habitations  of  cruelty.  And 
no  heathen  nation,  ancient  or  modern,  has  ever  had  in  its 
language  a  word  that  signified  to  their  minds,  what  we 
mean  by  "holiness"  or  "sancti ft  cation"  applied  to  the 
heart.  And  if  they  had  not  even  the  name  of  the  thing, 
is  it  probable  that  they  had  the  thing  itself? 

It  was  to  a  people  thus  base,  and  blind,  and  corrupt, 
that  God  said  he  would  send  Paui.  "I  will  send  thee  far 
hence  unto  the  Gentiles."  It  is  intended  to  use  this  por- 
tion of  Scripture  as  a  foundation  for  some  remarks  in 
reference  to  the  subject  of  personal  entrance  on  the  work, 
of  Foreign  Missions.  The  subject  is  grand,  and  has  a 
much  closer  connection  with  the  duty  of  the  church  than 
has  been  generally  supposed. 

The  first  remark  on  this  subject  is,  That  there  are  two 
great  objects,  neither  of  which  may  be  lost  sight  of  in 
christian  effort,  and  by  christian  ministers.  The  first 
regards  the  retaining  of  ground  already  gained — the 
maintenance  of  evangelical  doctrine,  discipline,  and  wor- 
ship, in  their  purity  and  power,  in  all  places  where  the 
gospel  is  now  preached,  and  christian  institutions  are  now 
planted.  This  is  a  matter  of  overwhelming  importance. 
Could  the  church  have  maintained  her  cause  and  her 
purity  in  the  east,  from  the  days  of  Constantine  until  now, 
it  can  hardly  admit  of  a  doubt,  that  ere  this,  the  entire 
earth  would  have  been  girded  with  the  mantle  of  holy 
love.  Instead  of  this,  however,  she  has  been  wasted  away 
to  a  ghastly  skeleton.  The  poison  of  error  kills  her  chil- 
dren so  soon  as  they  be  born;  and  the  sorcery  of  sin  has 
maddened  almost  every  head  and  heart  in  all  those 
regions,  where  Christ  suffered,  and  Paul  preached,  and 
Chrysostom  thundered,  and  Athanasius  resisted,  and 
Agustine  reasoned.     So  that,  in  a  peculiar  sense,  the 


a  Foreign  Missionary .  3 

church,  in  all  those  regions,  must  "do  her  first  works." 
Hence,  appears  the  importance  of  christian  effort  and  a 
christian  ministry  at  home. 

The  other  great  object  to  be  kept  in  view  is,  the  mak- 
ing of  conquests  to  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  region  and  shadow 
of  death;  the  unfolding,  and  planting  in  impregnable  for- 
tresses of  holy  love,  and  entire  devotion,  the  banner  of  the 
great  Captain  of  our  salvation.  This  is,  by  far  the  great- 
est work,  to  the  accomplishment  of  which  the  church  is 
now  called  to  make  sacrifices,  endure  hardness,  practise 
self-denial,  and  make  full  proof  of  her  power  with  God 
and  man.  Hence  appears  the  mighty  importance  of  holy 
effort,  and  a  scriptural  ministry  abroad. 

In  reference  to  a  call  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  in 
general,  no  remark  is  to  be  offered  at  this  time.  But  it 
may  neither  be  useless,  nor  unseasonable,  briefly  to  dis- 
cuss a  few  questions  and  matters  connected  with  the  sub- 
ject of  a  call  to  become  a  foreign  missionary.  "I  will 
send  the  far  hence  unto  the  Gentiles."  The  remarks 
offered  will  be  chiefly  and  peculiarly  adapted  to  ministers 
and  candidates  for  the  ministry  of  the  gospel;  although 
others  may  be  involved  in  them  also.  For  it  is  certainly 
tsue,  that  farmers,  printers,  mechanics  of  many  kinds, 
teachers,  male  and  female,  physicians,  &,c,  are  required 
to  the  perfect  organization,  and  especially,  to  the  demand- 
ed enlargement  of  missionary  enterprize.  Let  not  then 
any  individual  settle  it  in  his  own  mind,  without  candid 
inquiry,  frequent  reflection,  and  earnest  prayer,  that  he  is 
not  required  to  bear  a  direct  part  in  this  great  matter. 

The  first  remark  offered  on  this  subject  is,  that  every 
man  is  bound  by  most  solemn,  and  perfectly  indissoluble 
obligations,  to  inquire,  not  only  what  God  will  have  him 
to  do;  but  also,  when,  and  how,  and  where  he  will  have 
him  to  do  it.  lie,  who  held  the  seven  stars  of  the  seven 
churches  of  Asia  in  his  right  hand,  claims  the  right  and 
asserts  the  prerogative  now,  as  well  as  formerly,  of  saying 
where  his  people  and  ministers  shall  live,  and  labor,  and 
die.  He,  who  directed  James  to  Jerusalem,  John  to 
Ephesus  and  Pattnos,  and  Paul  to  the  gentiles,  still  has 
the  government  on  his  shoulders,  and  cannot  be  pleased 
with  any  exhibition  of  self-will,  either  in  the  choice  of  a 
mode  or  field  of  labor. 


4  A   Call  to  Personal  Labor  as 

Again:  The  basis  of  a  call  to  preach  the  gospel  among 
the  heathen,  must  be  a  call  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  in 
general.  A  man,  therefore,  having  satisfied  his  mind, 
that  he  is  called  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  has  a 
solid  foundation  for  the  inquiry  now  instituted.  The  con- 
verse of  this  statement  is  also  true. 

Furthermore.  God,  in  his  adorable  providence,  has  so 
ordered  missionary  affairs,  that  a  man  must  not  wait  for  a 
voice  from  heaven,  or  an  angel,  or  a  synod,  or  a  presby- 
tery, or  a  council,  or  a  missionary  society,  or  even  for  a 
brother  to  present  the  matter  to  his  mind,  in  order  to  bind 
him  to  a  most  solemn,  honest,  and  thorough  canvassing 
of  the  question,  "Shall  I  go  to  the  heathen?"  Formerly 
ecclesiastical  courts  and  councils  designated  missionaries; 
but  now  we  have  the  voice  of  God  only  in  his  ordinary 
Providence  and  Spirit,  saying:  ''Whom  shall  1  send?" 
And  personal  love,  and  zeal,  and  devotion,  must  give  the 
answer:  "Here  am  I;  send  me."  Whether  the  churches 
have  done  right  in  declining  so  extensively  the  practice  of 
nominating  brethren  for  a  foreign  field,  need  not  now  be 
determined.  Perhaps,  in  this,  there  has  been  error.  It 
might  do  good,  great  good,  to  adopt  a  late  suggestion;* 
and  have  fifty  pastors  of  Presbyterian  churches,  designated 
to  the  foreign  department.  Be  this  as  it  may,  a  man  may 
not  innocently  wait  for  such  designation  as  a  requisite  to 
a  solemn  consideration  of  the  subject.  It  is  worthy  of 
notice,  however,  that  even  in  days  of  infallible  guidance, 
neither  councils  nor  apostles  seem  to  have  exercised  them- 
selves much,  in  dividing  the  harvest  field  to  the  several 
reapers.  The  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  even  then,  dis- 
posed of  this  business  very  much  without  human  inter- 
ference. 

It  is  not  superfluous  to  state  that  there  is  nothing  super- 
natural, nay,  not  even  any  thing  of  religious  romance  in 
becoming  a  foreign  missionary.  There  was  a  time  when 
the  halo  surrounding  the  tomb  of  a  Brainerd  or  a  Martyn, 
or  even  the  person  of  a  foreign  missionary,  was  peculiar 
and  unusual.  But  of  late,  things  are  different.  The  time 
has  nearly  come,  when  intelligent  Christians  do  not  for  a 
moment  suppose  that  the  spirit  leading  a  man  to  Siam,  or 
China,  or  Ceylon,  or  Greenland,  or   Patagonia,  or  Africa, 

*  The  suggestion  was  made  by  the  Editor  of  "The  Presbyterian. 


a  Foreign  Missionary.  o 

for  Christ's  sake,  is  any  other  than  the  spirit  which  leads 
a  man  to  be  a  devoted  servant  of  Christ  in  the  hoary 
mountains,  the  retired  valleys,  or  populous  cities  of  his 
native  land. 

It  is  also  not  to  be  forgotten,  that  if  there  be  in  our 
habits,  constitution,  temperament,  education,  talents, 
gifts,  graces  or  wishes,  any  thing  peculiar,  and  leading  us 
to  prefer,  or  making  us  specially  fit  for  any  particular  field, 
station,  climate,  language,  people,  or  department  of  labor, 
we  can  be  gratified  or  suited.  And  it  ought  to  be  matter 
of  gratitude  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that  so  intelli- 
gent, and  in  every  way  excellent  advisers  can  be  had  id 
our  own  country,  enabling  one,  even  at  home,  to  deter- 
mine with  tolerable  accuracy,  where  he  may  compass  the 
most  good  in  his  short  life-time. 

It  is  important  to  state  that  there  is  a  very  common 
error  in  the  method  of  stating  and  considering  the  ques- 
tion of  personal  engagement  in  foreign  missions.  Men 
ordinarily  say  thus,  "Why  should  I  leave  home,  and  coun- 
try, and  friends,  to  go  abroad?"'  when  they  ought  to  say, 
"Why  should  I  cling  to  home  and  country,  and  friends, 
when  hundreds  of  millions  of  my  race  are  ready  to  fall 
into  an  eternal  hell,  and  have  no  one  to  point  them  to  the 
Lamb  of  God?"  This  error  betrays  gross  ignorance  of 
the  state  and  claims  of  the  heathen  world,  or  a  disregard 
of  those  claims  when  known,  or  a  cowardly  selfishness, 
which  shrinks  from  self-denial  and  duty,  because  not 
pleasant  to  flesh  and  blood. 

Such  being  the  posture  of  this  business,  this  question 
now  comes  up  fairly  to  our  view.  Taking  the  foregoing 
statements  as  true,  what  constitutes  a  call  to  the  labors 
and  reicards  of  a  foreign  missionary?  Let  us  first  attend 
to  those  points  of  discussion  which  relate  to  qualifica- 
tions. 

In  the  first  place,  much  stress  has  often  been  laid  upon 
the  possession  of  a  vigorous  constitution  and  sound  health, 
as  a  qua lifiration  for  foreign  labors.  Without  affecting 
to  deny  the  value  of  a  good  constitution,  and  vigorous 
health,  as  areat  comforts  and  blessings  in  themselves,  per- 
mission will  nevertheless  be  demanded  to  state,  that  evi- 
dently undue  importance  has  been  attached  to  this  item 
in  reference  to  the  ministry,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
If  a  man  must  endure  languor,  and  buffet  disease,  and  have 


6  A  Call  to  Personal  Labor  as 

tossings  to  and  fro  until  the  dawning  of  the  day,  may  he 
not  expend  his  remaining  energies  in  publishing  the  gos- 
pel, as  well  as  in  mercantile  transactions,  or  in  husban- 
dry, or  at  the  bar?  And  if  he  may  do  this  in  his  native 
State,  why  may  he  not  do  it  in  Africa,  in  Burmah,  in 
Ceylon,  in  the  islands  of  the  sea,  or  among  the  Indian 
tribes  of  North  America?  To  shut  our  mouths  on  this 
subject,  so  far  as  they  ought  to  be  shut,  God  has  raised 
up  and  put  into  the  ministry  such  men  as  Timothy,  who 
"had  often  infirmities,"  as  Owen,  who  was  willing  to  give 
all  his  learning  for  sound  health,  as  Richard  Baxter,  who 
spoke  and  wrote  as  if  already  in  his  winding-sheet,  as 
Thomas  Scott,  who  prepared  to  preach  by  the  use  of  an 
emetic  on  the  day  previous;  as  James  P.  Wilson,  whose 
almost  bloodless  countenance,  for  years,  gave  proof  of  the 
disease  that  preyed  upon  the  body.  Indeed,  reference 
might  be  made  to  an  army  of  the  honest  and  most  suc- 
cessful of  the  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  have  fought, 
and  toiled,  and  died  in  the  cause  of  redemption.  And,  as 
if  for  the  very  purpose  of  cutting  short  our  excuses  and 
cavillings,  God  raised  up,  and  kept  alive  on  heathen  ground, 
in  the  midst  of  enormous  sufferings,  great  labors,  and 
eminent  usefulness,  a  Brainerd  and  a  Martyn,  than  whom 
no  men  have  shone  in  the  history  of  modern  missions  with 
greater  lustre,  nor  perhaps  shall  shine,  until  the  kingdoms 
of  the  world  become  the  kingdoms  of  the  Lord. 

Besides,  how  does  a  man  know  but  a  change  of  climate 
and  habit  of  living  might  restore  to  perfect  soundness  his 
present  enfeebled  body?  If  we  go  to  the  south  of  France 
for  health,  why  not  goto  the  Sandwich  Islands,  or  Ceylon, 
for  the  same?  Even  extreme  hardship  has  saved  a  sink- 
ing constitution,  when  nothing  else  would.  But,  says 
one,  and  he  perhaps  a  minister  of  the  Gospel — "A  man 
must  take  care  of  his  life,  and  must  not  endanger  his 
health."  Is  this  true?  Does  the  Bible  speak  thus? 
Hear  the  word  of  the  Lord.  "I  count  not  my  life  dear" 
— "I  am  willing  to  spend  and  be  spent" — "I  am  willing, 
not  only  to  be  bound,  but  to  die,  if  need  be."  "He  that 
hateth  not  his  life  cannot  be  my  disciple."  "He  that 
saves  his  life  shall  lose  it."  The  Scriptures  are  full 
of  sentiments  very  averse  to  the  carnal  reasonings  of 
men.  It  is  true,  that  if  health  has  so  far  failed,  as  to 
destroy  all  reasonable  hope  that  the  man  would   be  more 


a  Foreign  Missionary.  7 

than  a  burden  to  the  cause;  then  such  an  one  ought  to 
remain  at  home.  Otherwise,  health  does  not  seem  to  be 
a  point  deserving  such  prominence  in  the  consideration  of 
this  business.  I  shall  not  easily  forget  the  words  of  a 
dear  brother,  destined  to  Africa,  as  he  gave  us,  at  his  em- 
barkation, the  last  cheerful  farewell,  and  said,  "i"  am 
trilling  to  be  sick  and  to  die  for  Jesus  Christ."  A  little 
of  the  spirit  that  dictated  this  expression,  would  make 
great  changes  in  our  views,  if  hitherto  we  have  been  in 
error. 

2.  Patience  in  enduring  privation  and  want  of  a  tem- 
poral kind,  is  another  subject  worthy  of  our  attention. 
Patience  in  any  man,  is  a  high  virtue,  and  is,  to  its  pos- 
sessor, invaluable.  Beyond  doubt,  the  foreign  missionary 
may  need  much  patience,  in  enduring  the  want  of  almost 
all  earthly  comforts.  At  least,  he  ought  to  be  ready  for 
such  exigencies — armed  for  the  battle.  But  suppose, 
when  a  man  is  urged  to  weigh  the  matter  of  personal  en- 
trance on  the  work  of  foreign  missions,  he  replies,  and  in 
truth  too,  "Oh,  I  am  impatient  of  privation — I  cannot 
bear  burdens:"  does  this  excuse  him?  Did  not  God 
command  him  to  "learn  to  endure  hardship."  "No  man 
that  warreth,  entangleth  himself  with  the  affairs  of  this 
life,  that  he  may  please  him,  who  hath  chosen  him  to  be 
a  soldier."  2  Tim.  ii,  4.  If  we  are  Christ's,  one  evi- 
dence of  that  fact  is,  that  we  please  not  ourselves.  But 
again,  if  we  have  never  learned,  both  how  to  abound,  and 
how  to  suffer  want,  it  is  time  that  we  had.  We  can  never 
learn  any  sooner.  Let  us  then  put  ourselves  on  a  course 
of  rigorous  self-denial,  court  hardship  as  we  can  possibly 
bear  it;  learn  to  say,  as  St.  Augustine,  "Oh  how  sweet  it 
is  to  deny  ourselves  these  earthly  sweets,  how  pleasant 
to  forego  these  temporal  pleasures;  and,  like  Christ,  be 
satisfied,  if  such  be  the  will  of  God,  not  to  have  where  to 
lay  our  heads,  if  we  may  but  find  our  meat  and  drink  in 
doing  the  works  of  him  that  sent  us,  and  finish  our  course 
with  joy."  It  is  said,  "practice  makes  perfect."  A  little 
more  exercise  in  this  point  of  godliness,  would  be  of  much 
service.  And  if  we  can  subdue  our  impatience  and  aver- 
sion to  suffering  for  Christ,  then  we  shall  be  ready  for 
any  good  work  in  any  place.  "Let  patience  have  her 
perfect  work." 


8  A   Call  to  Personal  Labor  as 

Cheerfulness  of  mind,  an  habitual  buoyancy  of  spirits, 
and  an  elevated  frame  of  feeling,  have  often  been  men- 
tioned as  of  great  importance  to  the  foreign  missionary. 
It  is  undoubtedly  true,  that  some  persons,  having  great 
natural  timidity,  and  tendency  to  despondency,  and  hav- 
ing gracious  principles  only,  in  a  very  feeble  or  languid 
state,  are  unfit  for  usefulness  any  where,  until  they  shall 
learn  to  live  nearer  to  God. 

But  the  necessity  of  cheerfulness  is  rendered  more 
prominent  than  it  deserves  to  be,  and  withal,  has  misrep- 
resentation often  connected  with  it.  In  the  first  place, 
natural  cheerfulness  and  buoyancy  of  soul  is  not  the  thing 
required.  The  cheerfulness,  that  can  be  relied  on,  is  a 
divine  quality.  Read  Isaiah  xl,  29 — 31;  and  Zechariah 
xii,  8.  The  history  of  Jeremiah  also  furnishes  sound  in- 
struction on  this  subject.  He  is  appropriately  styled  the 
weeping  prophet;  he  began  his  ministry  in  the  fearfulness 
of  youth;  he  lived  in  troublous  times;  he  had  great  natural 
timidity;  he  was  scorned  by  his  countrymen;  he  was  per- 
secuted by  strangers;  he  was  a  prisoner  to  the  enemies  of 
his  country;  he  died  in  captivity;  he  was  filled  with  sighs, 
and  groans,  and  tears,  and  cries  of  woe.  See  Jeremiah 
ix,  1.  and  xv,  10.  Yet  it  may  be  safely  questioned, 
whether  Elijah  or  Samuel  would  have  equalled  Jeremiah 
in  usefulness,  had  they  been  placed  in  his  stead.  We 
have  an  example  of  usefulness  also  in  one  who  was  natu- 
rally, morbidly,  and  habitually  despondent,  shining  with 
unusual  holy  splendor  in  the  catalogue  of  modern  mis- 
sionaries. It  is  almost  needless  to  say,  that  reference  is 
had  to  David  Brainerd,  all  of  whose  missionary  life  is 
spent  in  a  manner  much  resembling  that  of  Jeremiah.  Is 
cheerfulness  then  necessary  to  usefulness?  Nay,  has  not 
God  forever  settled  this  question  by  the  declaration  of  the 
great  proto-missionary,  Paul,  who  says,  "I  say  the  truth 
in  Christ,  I  lie  not,  my  conscience  also  bearing  me 
witness  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  I  have  great  heaviness 
and  continual  sorrow  in  my  heart."  Kom.  ix  1,2.  Ought 
Paul  to  have  waited  until  he  could  become  merry  of 
heart? 

Finally,  let  a  man  be  anointed  with  the  oil  of  holy 
gladness,  and,  however  much  his  natural  spirits  may  give 
way,  he  will  have  acquired  the  divine  art  of  "rejoicing  in 
tribulation."  It  is  hardly  to  be  questioned,  that  the  hap- 
piness of  many  in   Christian  lands  would   be  augmented3 


a  Foreign  Missionary .  9 

were  they  willing  to  go  to  the  heathen.  As  they  now  are, 
worldliness,  selfishness,  tedium  and  ennui,  are  rotting 
their  bones. 

Some  sound  knowledge  of  human  nature  has  often  been 
mentioned,  and  very  correctly  too,  asesential  to  usefulness 
at  home  or  abroad.  Other  things  being  equal,  it  is  un- 
doubtedly true,  that  he  who  is  the  most  perfect  scholar  in 
this  department  of  nature  will  be  the  most  useful.  To 
present  summarily  all  the  truth  on  this  branch  of  our  sub- 
ject, let  it  be  remarked,  that  there  are  many  posts  in  the 
foreign  department  of  christian  effort  which  do  not  re- 
quire any  more  extended  knowledge  of  men  than  an  or- 
dinary pastoral  charge  in  this  land.  Again:  He,  who  has 
good  sense,  and  a  pious  heart,  and  is  willing  and  able  to 
understand  and  receive  the  Bible  account  of  man,  will 
soon  learn  all  the  great  principles  of  human  nature,  and 
will  readily  acquire  some  skill  in  dealing  with  it.  The 
Bible,  above  all  books,  gives  just  and  deep  views  of  human 
nature.  Study  the  Bible  and  learn  mankind.  This 
thought  mav  encourage  us  in  the  business,  that  human 
nature  is  the  same  in  all  countries,  ages,  and  grades  of 
society.  Supreme  selfishness  governs  all  unrenewed 
men. 

A  capacity  for  acquiring,  with  some  degree  of  facility, 
a  knowledge  of  languages,  is  certainlv  desirable  in  all 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  yea  is  ordinarily  needful  to  the 
workmen,  who  need  not  be  ashamed.  Yet  it  is  painfully 
manifest,  that  there  has  been  a  remarkable  disposition  to 
give  to  this  matter  a  weight  which  it  does  not  deserve. 
Who  ever  heard  of  a  man  objecting  to  a  residence  in 
France,  Italy,  St.  Petersburg,  or  Constantinople,  because 
he  had  not  a  capacity  for  acquiring  with  ease  a  strange 
language?  None.  Let  the  hope  of  gain  be  raised  high, 
let  "the  clink  of  mammon's  box"  be  heard,  and  men  will 
go  any  where;  will,  in  defiance  of  physical  dulness.of 
mind,  in  a  short  time  learn  to  speak  fluently  of  gold,  and 
silver,  and  trade.  Just  so  ought  it  to  be  in  the  mission- 
ary cause.  Besides:  the  most  difficult  languages  have 
been  already  mastered;  and  the  greatest  difficulties  in 
most  languages  have  been  overcome.  Moreover,  many 
of  the  languages,  where  missionaries  are  now  wanted,  are 
learned  with  great  facility.  Some  missionaries  have 
learned  to  preach  in  a  heathen  language  in  a  single  year; 


10  A   Call  to  Personal  Labor  as 

and  some  in  even  a  shorter  time.  So  that,  while  it  10 
true,  the  greater  our  capacity  for  any  valuable  acquisition, 
the  better;  yet  the  way  is  as  open  on  the  score  of  lan- 
guage, as  a  man  of  good  sense  and  deep  piety  need  desire 
it  to  be.  Indeed,  in  some  of  the  schools,  as  among  the 
aborigines  of  America,  the  plain  English  itself  is  taught. 
So  that  there  can  be  no  insurmountable  difficulty. 

So  much  of  a  calculating  mind,  as  can  lay  a  judicious 
plan,  and  prosecute  it  for  years,  or  for  life;  providing,  at 
the  same  time,  against  sudden  reverses  and  unexpected 
difficulties,  is  a  desirable  quality  in  any  man,  who  would 
make  his  life  and  labors  very  useful  in  any  place  or  man- 
ner. Of  course,  the  foreign  missionary  would  reap  the 
full  advantage  of  such  a  mind.  But,  then,  let  us  consider 
that  the  importance  and  influence  of  this  consideration 
can  be  modified  almost  indefinitely.  If  a  man  is  to  be  at 
the  head  of  an  entire  mission;  is  to  go  to  places  and  people 
of  a  very  peculiar  character;  or  is  in  any  way  to  be  very 
delicately  situated,  or  very  highly  responsible,  then  he 
ought  to  be  a  wise,  calculating  man.  But  it  is  an  exceed- 
ingly small  number  of  men  who  can  be  leaders,  or  unu- 
sually responsible,  in  affairs  of  church  or  state,  at  home 
or  abroad.  And  the  number  of  leaders  in  the  missionary 
enterprize  does  not  increase  in  proportion  to  the  enlarge- 
ment of  operation. 

This  suggests  the  very  important  remark,  that  a  wil- 
lingness to  obey,  to  be  second,  yea,  to  take  the  very  lowest 
place  assigned  us  by  atir  brethren,  is  essential  to  our  use- 
fulness in  a  foreign  station.  Pride,  ambition,  self-conceit, 
self-will,  and  all  kindred  sentiments  must  be  mortified,  if 
we  would  be  fully  prepared  for  this  work.  No  man  can 
well  command,  who  knows  not  how  to  obey;  no  man  can 
well  direct,  who  has  not  himself  submitted  to  direction. 
Subordination,  yea,  even  co-ordination,  requires  that  low- 
liness reign  in  the  heart  and  mind. 

An  ability  or  tact  in  adapting  one's  self  to  occasions, 
so  as  to  be  kept  from  fatal  surprisals,  is  of  great  value  to 
every  minister,  and  in  some  foreign  stations,  incalculably 
so.  Yet  at  many  stations,  things  seem  to  have  entered 
such  a  regular  channel,  and  have  assumed  such  a  com- 
mon-place character,  that  men  of  great  resources  would 
find  but  little  demand  for  their  vast  versatility  of  powers. 
It  is  then  on  this  subject,  as  it  is  in  reference  to  the 
ministry  at  home,  viz.  that  while   there  is  at  some  places 


a  Foreign  Missionary.  11 

scope  for  the  exercise  of  the  greatest  powers  and  re- 
sources, there  is  also,  at  other  places,  room  enough  for 
talents  and  powers  of  slow  action,  and  of  rather  tedious 
mediocrity. 

Much  has  been  said  of  the  importance  of  ardent  love 
to  the  cause  of  missions,  as  a  qualification  for  the  work. 
Doubtless,  he,  who  does  not  ardently  love  the  cause,  will 
do  it  less  disservice  by  remaining  at  home,  than  by  going 
abroad.  For  the  clearing  of  this  matter,  let  a  few  things 
be  said.  First:  love  to  the  cause  of  missions  is  nothing 
but  love  to  souls  and  to  Jesus  Christ,  shown  in  a  particu- 
lar way.  Of  course,  just  in  proportion  as  a  man  love9 
souls  and  the  Savior,  will  he  love  the  cause  of  missions. 
Then  he,  who  loves  not  the  cause  of  missions  at  all,  loves 
not  men  or  Christ  at  all;  and  he,  who  loves  not  the  cause 
of  missions  ardently,  loves  not  his  race  or  the  Redeemer 
ardently.  Of  course,  he,  who  loves  not  the  cause  of  mis- 
sions ardently,  is  not  fit  to  be  a  minister  in  any  place  or 
country.  And  the  piety  of  any  man  is  nothing  worth,  if 
it  do  not  lead  him  to  yearn  with  bowels  of  tender  com- 
passion towards  the  dying  heathen.  Besides:  if  you  have 
not  ardent  love  to  the  cause  of  missions,  it  is  your  crime, 
your  sin,  and  not  your  excuse.  Every  man  is  verily  guil- 
ty concerning  his  brethren — is  truly  condemned  by  the 
law  of  love,  who  does  not  earnestly  pray  and  labor  for  the 
period  to  arrive,  when  "the  light  of  the  moon  shall  be  as 
the  light  of  the  sun,  and  the  light  of  the  sun  shall  be 
sevenfold,  as  the  light  of  seven  days."     Isaiah  xxx,  26. 

Great  personal  industry  is  a  quality  of  indispensable  re- 
quisition in  a  foreign  missionary.  If  men  will  creep,  and 
crawl,  and  lounge,  and  rust,  and  rot,  let  them  stay  at 
home;  let  them  not  go  to  bring  odium  and  death  on  chris- 
tian precepts  in  heathen  countries,  by  an  example  of 
slothfulness.  Sleepy  dogs  may  as  well  be  kept  in  the 
house  as  be  put  on  the  watch.  Yea,  it  is  unwise  in  the 
least  to  rely  on  their  vigilance.  It  is  better  to  have  none, 
than  such.  Up  to  this  day,  it  is  true,  that  slothful  habits, 
or  even  the  lack  of  great  personal  indu>try  have  clothed 
their  subjects  with  amazing  guilt,  and  have  brought  a 
harvest  of  death  on  the  souls  of  their  hearers.  None  but 
the  Infinite  One  can  tell  what  hundreds  of  ministers,  and 
thousands  of  their  people  are  this  day  sutferingin  the  world 
of  woe,  on  account  of  this  dreadful  sin.  And  if  industry 
be  important   at  home,  it  is  still   more   so,   if  possible,  to 


12  A  Call  to  Personal  Labor  as 

him  who  goes  abroad.  To  be  ever  on  the  alert,  watching 
for  opportunities  of  usefulness,  making  every  hour  in  the 
day  advance  the  cause,  is  the  only  way  to  make  a  life 
eminently  useful  at  home  or  abroad,  but  especially  abroad. 
Well  prepared  as  Henry  Martyn  himself  was  for  foreign 
labors,  even  he  lost  the  best  opportunity  of  usefulness, 
which  he  had  for  months  in  India,  and  simply  for  want  of 
giving  good  heed.  Let  no  man  comfort  himself  and  sit 
down  quietly,  thinking  himself  not  called  to  engage  in 
foreign  missions,  because  he  has  not  industrious  habits. 
If  he  have  them  not,  he  is  guilty,  and  will  continue  guil- 
ty until  he  acquire  them.  Any  minister  without  such 
habits  is  pre-eminently  guilty,  be  his  station  and  tal- 
ents what  they  may. 

It  is  also  true,  that  no  man  ought  to  be  sent  by  the 
church  on  a  foreign  mission,  who  feels  an  unconquera- 
ble unwillingness  to  go.  And  yet,  this  remark  needs 
explanation.  Jonah  was  called  to  go  on  a  foreign  mis- 
sion, even  to  Nineveh,  yet  was  he  exceedingly  unwil- 
ling to  go.  But  God  made  him  willing  before  He  left 
off  chastening  him.  The  unwillingness  referred  to,  is 
rather  a  hindrance  to  the  church  in  sending  us,  than 
an  evidence  that  we  are  not  called.  So  of  other  dis- 
qualifications alluded  to  in  this  essay — they  may  often 
justly  hinder  the  church  from  sending  the  person  in 
whom  they  are  found  to  the  heathen,  while  they  fur- 
nish him  with  no  excuse  for  not  going.  By  self-dis- 
cipline, watchfulness,  and  grace,  he  ought  to  rid  him- 
self of  them.  No  man  is  excusable  for  not  possessing, 
in  a  good  degree,  every  requisite  moral  qualification 
for  the  missionary  work.  Even  a  holy  prophet  once 
heard  the  solemn  inquiry  and  reproof,  "What  dost  thou 
here,  Elijah?"  1  Kings  xix,  9,  13.  A  man  may  feel 
an  aversion  to  any  plain  duty,  yet  that  aversion  does 
not  excuse,  but  rather  condemn  him.  If  the  path  of 
duty  be  otherwise  plain,  let  it  be  our  constant  aim  to 
be  willing  to  be,  to  do,  or  to  suffer  any  thing  for 
Christ's  sake,  and  that  joyfully.  The  more  willing  the 
better. 

It  is  of  vast  importance,  that  the  whole  church  of 
God,  but  especially  ministers,  and  most  especially  for- 
eign missionaries,  should  cultivate  strong  faith  in  God, 
and  in  particular,  a  firm  belief  in  all  the  promises  re- 
specting   the    final    conversion    of  the    world.      It   was 


a  Foreign  Missionary.  13 

only  "by  faith  Abraham  went  out,  not  knowing  whither 
he  went."  Heb.  xi,  8.  It  was  only  by  faith  that  Paul 
"went  to  Jerusalem,  not  knowing  the  things  that  should 
befal  him  there,  save  that  the  Holy  Ghost  witnessed 
in  every  city,  saying,  that  bonds  and  afflictions  did 
abide  him."  Acts  xx,  22,  23.  A  foreign  missionary, 
without  lively  faith  and  hope  in  God,  would  be,  even 
as  to  this  world,  in  a  worse  state  than  a  ship  without 
helm  or  anchor.  By  a  careful  perusal  of  Scripture 
prophecy  and  promise,  and  by  hearty  prayer  to  God, 
the  missionary  must  also  settle  it  unwaveringly  in  his 
mind,  that  Jesus  Christ  shall  have  the  heathen  for  his 
heritage,  and  every  part  of  the  earth  for  a  possession. 
The  Scriptures  will  also  fully  justify  the  firm  belief, 
that  the  day  of  the  Lord  draweth  nigh,  and  that  the  year 
of  his  redeemed  is  not  far  distant.  A  firm  belief  of  this 
will  mightily  encourage  and  animate  him.  Without  strong 
faith  on  these  subjects,  the  foreign  laborer  will  be  but  a 
reed  shaken  with  the  wind,  when  the  blast  of  the  terrible 
ones  is  as  a  storm  against  the  wall. 

So  much,  on  the  score  of  qualification,  it  was  our  duty 
to  state.  Perhaps  every  important  point  has  been  noticed, 
so  far  as  qualification  for  this  work  is  to  be  added  to  quali- 
fication for  the  ministry  in  general.  If  we  have  not  these 
qualities,  or  any  of  them  in  a  sufficient  degree,  yet  if  we 
can  and  shall  by  any  means  acquire  them,  then  our  way 
is  clear. 

In  ascertaining  a  call  to  the  field  of  foreign  labor, 
reference  must  undoubtedly  be  had  to  the  leadings  and 
actings  of  God's  wonderful  providence.  These  acts  of 
Providence,  in  addition  to  those  which  lead  us  into  the 
ministry,  are  very  numerous.  When  favorable,  they  gen- 
erally relate  to  the  fact  and  manner  of  bringing  the  sub- 
ject of  missions  before  the  mind;  riddance  from  the  duties 
and  embarrassments  created  by  the  indispensable  obliga- 
tions of  justice,  faith,  mercy,  or  filial  piety,  and  provision 
for  our  maintenance,  while  in  the  field  of  foreign  labor. 
These  and  kindred  topics  are  the  chief  matters,  which 
receive  direction  from  God's  providence;  and,  if  there  be 
no  other  acts  of  God's  government  of  an  opposing  nature, 
His  will  may  be  esteemed  to  be  clearly  and  conclusively 
expressed. 

So  much  of  the  matter  of  a  call  to  a  foreign  field,  as 
relates  to  the  direct  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  on 


14  A  Call  to  Personal  Labor  as 

the  heart,  is,  perhaps,  of  more  difficult  explication.  It  is 
enough,  however,  to  state,  that  over  and  above  the  be- 
stowment  of  qualities  of  mind  and  heart,  necessary  to  con- 
stitute a  call  to  the  ministry  in  general,  added  to  the 
qualities  spoken  of  in  this  discourse,  there  is  but  little  left 
for  special  notice.  Yet  we  may  not  omit  mentioning  a 
frequent,  and  often  involuntary  drawing  of  the  mind  to  the 
great  subject  of  missions,  the  awakening  of  a  lively  inter- 
est in  their  success,  the  granting  of  the  spirit  of  special 
prayer  for  their  increase  and  prosperity,  and  the  holding 
up  to  the  eye  of  the  mind  some  of  the  moral  grandeur 
and  captivating  beauty  of  the  work,  so  as  to  make  it  ap- 
pear any  thing  eise  than  "a  dull  and  melancholy  exile." 
For  our  comfort  and  the  divine  glory,  however,  let  it  be 
said,  that  "the  meek  God  will  guide  in  judgment,"  on  this, 
as  on  all  other  matters;  and  that,  "if  any  man  lack  wis- 
dom, let  him  ask  of  God,  whogiveth  liberally  and  upbraid- 
eth  not." 

It  is  no  more  than  duty  requires  to  state,  that  persons 
have  gone  on  foreign  missions  who  were  certainly  never 
called  to  that  work.  As  error,  therefore,  may  be  com- 
mitted, let  each  one  be  cautious,  and  well  count  the  cost, 
"lest,  haply,  after  he  hath  laid  the  foundation,  and  is  not 
able  to  finish  it,  all  that  behold  it  begin  to  mock  him, 
saying,  this  man  began  to  build  and  was  not  able  to  finish." 
Luke  xiv,  29,  30.  It  is  necessary  for  the  comfort  of  the 
honest  inquirer,  and  for  the  glory  of  God,  that  it  be  dis- 
tinctly stated,  that  perhaps  all  who  have  erred  in  going 
abroad,  have  been  influenced  by  some  wrong  motive,  or 
some  want  of  reflection,  as  they  themselves  might  have 
learned,  if  they  had  with  sufficient  care  examined  the 
whole  matter.  Let  it  also  be  distinctly  stated,  that  there 
is  alarming  ground  of  fears,  that  many  who  are  called  to 
the  foreign  field,  disobey  the  call,  and  remain  at  home. 
These  fears  are  based  upon  several  general  views  of 
things. 

In  the  first  place,  all  men,  who  have  any  spiritual  dis- 
cernment, do  lament  that  piety  is  at  a  very  low  ebb,  in 
the  church  and  in  the  ministry,  at  our  colleges  and  semi- 
naries, and  every  where  else.  Now,  this  is  the  very  state 
of  things  which  we  would  expect  to  result  from  the  de- 
tainure  at  home  of  some,  yea,  of  many,  who  ought  to  go 
abroad.  When  piety  is  low,  those  fields  of  labor  that  are 
pleasant  to  the  pride,  or  slothfulness,  or   voluptuousness, 


a  Foreign  Missionary.  15 

or  any  other  sinful  quality  of  man,  will  be  sought  after; 
while  those,  demanding  much  self-denial,  will  be  com- 
pelled to  call  long  and  loud  before  they  will  obtain  a  can- 
did practical  hearing. 

Again:  there  are  in  the  United  States  between  four  and 
five  thousand  educated,  evangelical  ministers.  We  have 
also  a  population  not  exceeding  thirteen  or  fourteen  mil- 
lions of  souls.  Can  it  be  supposed  that  God  has  called 
so  many  to  labor  here,  and  so  few  elsewhere,  while  mani- 
festly, the  door  is  set  wide  open  in  many  countries  for 
preaching  the  word  of  God,  for  distributing  the  Holy 
Scriptures  and  religious  tracts,  and  for  establishing 
schools  for  Christian  instruction?  Are  not  probabilities 
fearfully  against  the  present  state  of  things  among  us? 
We  have  here  a  well-educated  minister  for  every  three 
thousand  souls,  while  the  heathen,  to  whom  we  have  in- 
viting access,  have  scarcely  a  minister  to  every  million  of 
their  population.     What  do  these  things  mean? 

Again:  there  is  a  fearful  and  amazing  apathy  among 
the  churches  and  clergy  of  evangelical  denominations. 
Why  is  this?  May  it  not  be  because  of  the  fact,  that  in 
so  many  remaining  at  home,  we  run  contrary  to  the  good 
pleasure  of  God,  and  he  has  paralyzed  us?  And  now  the 
American  church  may  say — "From  the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  earth  have  we  heard  songs,  even  glory  to  the  righ- 
teous. But  1  said,  my  leanness,  my  leanness,  wo  unto 
me."  Isaiah  xxiv,  16.  The  army  of  Gideon  must  be 
reduced  from  thirty-two  thousand  to  three  hundred,  before 
he  can  conquer.  The  body  of  Christ  will  not  have  sound 
health  until  it  takes  more  exercise,  and  walks  and  does 
not  faint,  and  runs  and  is  not  weary,  and  bears  glad 
tidings  of  salvation  over  mountains  and  billows,  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth. 

There  are  many  other  signs  as  decisive  as  those  just 
alluded  to,  awaking  rational  fears  that  many  of  us,  who 
are  at  home,  ought  to  be  abroad.  But  enough  has  been 
said  to  justify  the  position  taken. 

And  now,  my  brethren,  let  this  subject  come  home 
with  all  its  force.  Whatever  may  be  our  conduct  now, 
we  shall  be  compelled  to  meet  this  matter  fairly,  and  fully, 
at  the  bar  of  God.  Open  your  ears,  and  hear  the  distant, 
though  distinct  and  deafening  cry,  coining  from  six  hun- 
dred millions  of  earth's  population,  as  they  are  sinking  to 
an   eternal  hell,  and   saying — "Oh!   give  us  a  book  and 


16  A  Call  to  be  a  Foreign  Missionary. 

send  us  a  teacher,  that  can   tell  us  how  our  immortality 
may  prove  a  blessing — our  existence  tolerable. " 

Look  up  to  the  throne  above,  and  see  the  Mediator  of 
the  new  covenant,  kindly,  yet  authoritatively,  bowing  to 
us,  and  saying,  "By  these  hands,  and  these  feet,  and  this 
side  that  did  bleed,  by  all  my  bloody  sweat  in  the  garden, 
by  all  my  grace  in  your  personal  salvation,  by  all  my  love 
and  authority  as  head  of  the  church,  I  command — I  be- 
seech you,  that  ye  speedily  'go  into  all  the  world,  and 
preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature.'  "  Can  we,  will 
we,  dare  we,  let  twenty  millions,  from  unevangelized  na- 
tions, go  into  eternity  every  year,  without  unparalleled 
efforts  to  save  them  from  the  burning  lake?  "Who  will  go 
for  us?" 

<4Are  there  no  ministers  of  the  sanctuary,  whose  usefulness  would  be 
greatly  increased  by  leaving  their  people  and  their  country,  and  becom- 
ing missionaries  to  the  heathen?  How  many,  alas!  are  content  with  a 
limited  sphere  of  labor,  when  kingdoms  and  empires  lie  in  utter  destitution. 
Energies  are  exhausted  upon  trifles,  talents  are  buried,  and  men  who  might 
be  exceedingly  useful  are  voluntarily  incarcerated.  Those  who  are  com- 
manded ,;to  proclaim  liberty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison 
to  them  that  are  bound,"  must  have  their  message  first  proclaimed  to  them- 
selves. The  missionary  work  demands  the  most  exalted  talent,  and  exten- 
sive learning;  and  consequently  the  arguments  employed  for  remaining  at 
home,  are  the  very  ones  which  render  more  imperative  the  duty  of 
going  abroad.  It  is  true  the  work  can  accommodate  itself  to  every  order 
of  talent  and  acquirement,  and  so  can  the  highest  stations  in  Christian 
lands;  but  the  result  in  both  cases  will  be  alike.  The  duty  of  acquiring 
languages,  translating,  writing,  instructing  on  all  subjects,  answering  all 
questions,  reasoning,  devising  facilities,  managing  events,  in   man}'  cases 

fjractising  medicine,  and  preaching  to  different  classes,  often  in  different 
anguages,  v\ ill  soon  convince  those  who  make  the  trial,  that  none  can  be 
too  well  qualified  for  labors  among  the  heathen.  We  speak  not  to  discour- 
age any,  but  to  correct  the  opinions  of  some.  None  need  despair  of  use- 
fulness— all  who  feel  constrained  by  the  love  of  Christ  should  enlist  in  this 
service;  but  the  last  objection  which  ought  to  be  conceived,  is,  that  the 
minds  of  any  are  so  vigorous  and  richly  furnished,  that  the  most  difficult 
project  of  earth,  opposed  by  all  the  forces  of  hell,  is  not  sufficient  to  employ 
their  powers." 

May  He,  "from  whom  all  blessings  flow,"  pour  down 
his  Spirit  upon  us,  anointing  us  afresh  with  an  unction 
that  shall  abide,  and  enable  us  all  joyfully  to  go  where  we 
are  sent,  and  to  run  whither  we  are  called,  so  that  by  any 
means  we  may  "speed  the  flight  of  the  angel,  who  has 
the  everlasting  Gospel  to  preach  unto  the  nations." 
Amen. 


